On Politics

2:28 pm

Thu September 13, 2012

Ed Pacheco: partisan or just petty?

Democratic State Chairman Ed Pacheco must have taken a trip to the rest room or something at the Democratic National Convention when the political figure from Rhode Island with the biggest speaking role of anyone from the Ocean State took the podium at the Charlotte convention.

In a post-convention e-mail to Rhode Island Democrats, Pacheco talks about the enthusiasm of delegates and speakers at the convention. “I think back to my time at the convention and cannot forget the personal stories of every speaker who stood on that stage,’’ writes Pacheco. “I listened as Vice President Joe Biden and Mayor Julian Castro shared the moments in their lives that shaped them into the leaders they are today.’’

Pacheco goes on to tout Rhode Island Democrats Sheldon Whitehouse, Jim Langevin and David Cicilline as “candidates you can trust to fight for your rights in Washington.’’

And the state chairman speaks of listening to the “powerful and moving words of Democrats like Mayor Cory Booker, First Lady Michelle Obama, U.SD. House candidate Tammy Duckworth, President Bill Clinton, Biden, and, of course, President Barack Obama.’’

“I would like to leave you with the words of the RI Speaker of the House Gordon Fox, who led the Rhode Island delegation made up of Democrats like you. “Our motto is hope,’’ said Speaker Fox. “Just like our state, it is a small yet powerful word, and tonight this powerful delegation is full of hope.’’

Pacheco begins his missive with an Obama rally slogan. “I am fired up and ready to go.’’ After a rambling platitude-filled message, Pacheco urges Democrats to stand firm and work together.

But there is not ONE word of mention of independent Governor Lincoln Chafee’s heartfelt speech to delegates and millions of television viewers urging voters to support Obama. Chafee had by far the biggest speaking role of any Rhode Island politician at any Democratic National Convention since Sen. John Pastore’s masterful 1964 keynote address, but Pacheco chose to completely ignore it. OK so Chafee is an independent, not a Democrat, but why would the Democratic state chairman be so petty as to not even acknowledge that the governor gave a supportive speech for the Democratic president?

Pacheco will have plenty of time to boost Gina Raimondo, Angel Taveras or Ernie Almonte when the 2014 gubernatorial election cycle begins. For now he could have at least given a nod to Chafee, who gave a fine pro-Obama speech and anti-GOP speech. After all, Pacheco mentioned Cicilline, who didn’t even go to Charlotte.